Which term best describes organisms that eat decaying matter such as fallen leaves or rotting logs?

• A. Herbivore
• B. Detritivore
• C. Carnivore
• D. Omnivore

Answer: (B)

Organisms that feed on dead and decaying organic material are detritivores. They actively eat detritus like fallen leaves, rotting logs, and other decaying matter, breaking it down and passing nutrients through the ecosystem. This helps recycle nutrients back into soil and supports other life.

Herbivores eat living plants, carnivores eat other animals, and omnivores eat plants and animals. None of these descriptions specifically target decaying matter the way detritivores do. Decomposers like fungi and bacteria also break down dead material, but they do so mainly by chemically breaking it down and absorbing nutrients, whereas detritivores ingest and digest the detritus itself.